Membership

As the voice of UK independent music companies, AIM represents your issues to Government, the EU and throughout the global industry, to ensure a fair market in which indies can compete and thrive. Our job is to help our individual members; businesses and to support the needs of the independent sector. Join AIM and get access to a wide range of member benefits designed to help your music business succeed. AIM higher and become part of our community of over 800 independent companies of all sizes and shapes.

Masterclass & Networking events

AIM offers a programme of regular conferences and networking events, allowing members to learn about key areas of label business and make important new contacts in those areas.

Some events are exclusively open to members, whereas others are open to all with a significant discount for AIM members. Visit the Events section to find out what events we have planned right now!

Sync Licensing To TV, Film, Adverts & Games

Held annually (usually in February), this is a chance to see music supervisors from TV, ads, games and film talk about what they’re working on, how they select music, the kind of deals done and what music they are looking for right now. It’s also a chance to get feedback on your own music from the panel in the popular listening session, as well as meet the music supervisors during networking drinks afterwards. Keynote interviews at our sync events have included Thomas Golubic (Music Supervisor on Breaking Bad) and PJ Bloom (Music Supervisor on Glee).

Music Connected

Music Connected is a 1-day digital music conference taking place in London each April. Watch digital marketing campaign presentations and panels on key digital music issues, whilst meeting all the key digital service providers in the ‘digital market place’. A one-stop-shop for getting your digital music business knowledge up to speed and making the contacts needed to do successful business in the digital realm. This event is significantly discounted for AIM members, and attracts digital music figures from across the globe.

Women in Music & Entertainment

AIM is commited to encouraging greater diversity in the music industry, and part of that is our Women in Music & Entertainment evening, which takes place each summer. The idea is to bring women from across the creative industries together to encourage them to achieve their goals, network with other people in the industry and hear from some inspiring speakers. Past speakers have included Harriet Harman (MP), Kanya King (MOBO founder), Jo Wiley (Radio 2) and many more. Men are welcome of course!

Indie-Con

Indie-Con is AIM’s 1-day conference covering all areas of label business. There are panels, presentations and sessions on PR, marketing, sourcing funding, fan engagement, artist management, getting your music on the radio, managing your live business and much more. Taking place each November, this is another must-do event for anyone running an indie label.

AIM Socials

Some events focus purely on networking; as the saying goes it’s ‘who you know, not what you know’ in the music business. Actually we believe it’s both!

We hold regular socials in London and elsewhere around the UK (recently we have visited Cardiff and Leeds). We hire out a bar, all AIM members are invited, and we make sure that there are great labels on the decks and plenty of friendly AIM folk and other labels to enjoy a few drinks with.

AIM Digital Marketing Training – Intensive Courses

We offer regular 1-day intensive courses called ‘AIM Digital Training’, for anyone looking to take their digital business to the next level. Significantly discounted for AIM members.

AIM Inductions

Every new member is invited to a free Induction Meeting at the AIM office, giving you the chance to meet the team, receive expert advice on all areas of establishing your business, meet other new members and find out how to make the most of your membership. A must-do for anyone joining AIM.

Other Events

AIM members are also invited to our AGM each summer and our Christmas party, both of which offer great opportunities to meet other like-minded independent companies in the AIM community.

Discounts & Special offers

Discounts and Special Offers on Industry Services

AIM has secured a great range of special offers and discounts for members in a variety of business areas: CD pressing, industry news, press advertising, royalty packages, bar codes and much more.

Many of these come from our ‘Friends of AIM’ – associate members who make an important contribution to AIM in return for the opportunity to be part of AIM’s independent community. We don’t share members’ details with these companies, but we do send out a weekly email to members on their behalf with the latest deals or news from Friends of AIM. Look out for these, there are some great deals for members.

Bar Codes

AIM has a special deal for members with GS1, who issue bar codes in the UK. Members of AIM can register for bar codes from GS1 for £25 each, and companies with a turnover of under £100,000 can join GS1 UK without having to pay a joining fee under the ‘Unique Music’ Scheme established by AIM, BPI and GS1.

With the use of GS1 UK’s unique numbers, music distributors are able to accurately track record sales through direct and indirect sales channels and pay accurate and timely royalties to artists.

Industry Events

AIM members get a discounted registration rate for just about every industry event in the UK and overseas. The UK events our members can get a discounted rate for include: The Great Escape, Liverpool, Sound City, MMF / MPA Training Courses and many more. Overseas we offer discounts on: Midem, SXSW, Amsterdam Dance Event, Womex, International Music Summit, Sonar, Iceland Airwaves, Noorderslag and others.

Expert advice

AIM’s professional and enthusiastic team are always on hand to offer advice to members on all areas of their business.

Whether you are looking for distribution, wondering whether to go ahead with a synchronisation licence, planning to hire new staff, struggling with collecting international performance royalties or looking for marketing opportunities, we can help.

AIM’s in-house team includes staff knowledgeable in the areas of marketing, digital distribution, legal and business affairs, finance and funding and international. If we can’t help with members’ queries, we will almost certainly know someone who can. Advice from AIM’s friendly and informed team is the service most highly valued by our membership according to our annual survey.

Legal & Business Affairs

General Legal and Business Affairs Advice

Gee Davy, AIM’s Legal and Business Affairs Manager, is on hand to answer members’ general queries relating to all legal and business affairs matters. This includes distribution agreements, publishing/PRS and mechanicals, PPL and international performance rights (aka ‘neighbouring rights’), VPL, Youtube and other video related issues, and any number of other areas affecting independent music companies from a legal or commercial perspective.

AIM does not offer a full legal service and cannot offer specific contractual advice, but we offer solid general advice and invaluable business context to our members such that they are better placed to make informed decisions for themselves. Where necessary, we can put members in touch with expert private practice lawyers who will be able to offer bespoke legal advice, if necessary.

AIM industry support programmes

Since 2012 AIM has set up a number of industry level support programmes for its members.

PPL: AIM has a regular monthly meeting programme with PPL, whereby AIM members have their PPL related questions and issues raised by a dedicated contact at PPL, to ensure questions are answered and any issues are solved quickly and easily. Members send their questions to AIM’s legal team to collate and raise in each monthly meeting; responses are then fed back to the member either by AIM or PPL.

Youtube: Likewise since 2013, AIM is in regular contact with Youtube to assist AIM members with specific issues relating to Youtube which are not covered in any of Youtube’s large library of online support materials.

Please contact Gee Davy for more details.

Industry Checklists and AIM Guides

AIM offers a useful collection of short guides to signing artists, distribution, overseas licensing and other areas. We also publish a weekly newsletter with matters of concern and interest to indie labels.

Members can also find a wealth of information on the business affairs aspects of running a label in the free ‘AIM Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business’.

Lobbying & Campaigning

AIM acts as a voice for the independent sector to government and within the wider industry, championing the issues that matter to indies and ensuring indies are treated fairly by commercial partners.

Representing a body of over 800 small companies, AIM has the collective strength to act as a ‘fourth major’. AIM, therefore, lobbies government on the key issues affecting independents, and contributes to industry consultations as a member of UK Music, the body representing the interests of the UK music industry to government.

In the commercial world, small companies are often offered poorer deals than the major labels. AIM’s collective strength allows us to negotiate and campaign on behalf of the independent sector to ensure independents get fair deals from commercial partners. We also work to get good access to media for our members. In the past we have negotiated and campaigned on behalf of the sector with iTunes, the BBC, MTV and numerous others, resulting in significant extra revenue for our members.

We currently have an ongoing dialogue with BBC radio, to ensure independents have good access to the Radio 1 and Radio 2 playlists, something which was highlighted as a key concern by members at our 2009 AGM.

Distributor member

Masterclass & Networking events

AIM offers a programme of regular conferences and networking events, allowing members to learn about key areas of label business and make important new contacts in those areas.

Some events are exclusively open to members, whereas others are open to all with a significant discount for AIM members. Visit the Events section to find out what events we have planned right now!

Sync Licensing To TV, Film, Adverts & Games

Held annually (usually in February), this is a chance to see music supervisors from TV, ads, games and film talk about what they’re working on, how they select music, the kind of deals done and what music they are looking for right now. It’s also a chance to get feedback on your own music from the panel in the popular listening session, as well as meet the music supervisors during networking drinks afterwards. Keynote interviews at our sync events have included Thomas Golubic (Music Supervisor on Breaking Bad) and PJ Bloom (Music Supervisor on Glee).

Music Connected

Music Connected is a 1-day digital music conference taking place in London each April. Watch digital marketing campaign presentations and panels on key digital music issues, whilst meeting all the key digital service providers in the ‘digital market place’. A one-stop-shop for getting your digital music business knowledge up to speed and making the contacts needed to do successful business in the digital realm. This event is significantly discounted for AIM members, and attracts digital music figures from across the globe.

Women in Music & Entertainment

AIM is commited to encouraging greater diversity in the music industry, and part of that is our Women in Music & Entertainment evening, which takes place each summer. The idea is to bring women from across the creative industries together to encourage them to achieve their goals, network with other people in the industry and hear from some inspiring speakers. Past speakers have included Harriet Harman (MP), Kanya King (MOBO founder), Jo Wiley (Radio 2) and many more. Men are welcome of course!

Indie-Con

Indie-Con is AIM’s 1-day conference covering all areas of label business. There are panels, presentations and sessions on PR, marketing, sourcing funding, fan engagement, artist management, getting your music on the radio, managing your live business and much more. Taking place each November, this is another must-do event for anyone running an indie label.

AIM Socials

Some events focus purely on networking; as the saying goes it’s ‘who you know, not what you know’ in the music business. Actually we believe it’s both!

We hold regular socials in London and elsewhere around the UK (recently we have visited Cardiff and Leeds). We hire out a bar, all AIM members are invited, and we make sure that there are great labels on the decks and plenty of friendly AIM folk and other labels to enjoy a few drinks with.

AIM Digital Marketing Training – Intensive Courses

We offer regular 1-day intensive courses called ‘AIM Digital Training’, for anyone looking to take their digital business to the next level. Significantly discounted for AIM members.

AIM Inductions

Every new member is invited to a free Induction Meeting at the AIM office, giving you the chance to meet the team, receive expert advice on all areas of establishing your business, meet other new members and find out how to make the most of your membership. A must-do for anyone joining AIM.

Other Events

AIM members are also invited to our AGM each summer and our Christmas party, both of which offer great opportunities to meet other like-minded independent companies in the AIM community.

Discounts & Special offers

Discounts and Special Offers on Industry Services

AIM has secured a great range of special offers and discounts for members in a variety of business areas: CD pressing, industry news, press advertising, royalty packages, bar codes and much more.

Many of these come from our ‘Friends of AIM’ – associate members who make an important contribution to AIM in return for the opportunity to be part of AIM’s independent community. We don’t share members’ details with these companies, but we do send out a weekly email to members on their behalf with the latest deals or news from Friends of AIM. Look out for these, there are some great deals for members.

Bar Codes

AIM has a special deal for members with GS1, who issue bar codes in the UK. Members of AIM can register for bar codes from GS1 for £25 each, and companies with a turnover of under £100,000 can join GS1 UK without having to pay a joining fee under the ‘Unique Music’ Scheme established by AIM, BPI and GS1.

With the use of GS1 UK’s unique numbers, music distributors are able to accurately track record sales through direct and indirect sales channels and pay accurate and timely royalties to artists.

Industry Events

AIM members get a discounted registration rate for just about every industry event in the UK and overseas. The UK events our members can get a discounted rate for include: The Great Escape, Liverpool, Sound City, MMF / MPA Training Courses and many more. Overseas we offer discounts on: Midem, SXSW, Amsterdam Dance Event, Womex, International Music Summit, Sonar, Iceland Airwaves, Noorderslag and others.

Expert advice

AIM’s professional and enthusiastic team are always on hand to offer advice to members on all areas of their business.

Whether you are looking for distribution, wondering whether to go ahead with a synchronisation licence, planning to hire new staff, struggling with collecting international performance royalties or looking for marketing opportunities, we can help.

AIM’s in-house team includes staff knowledgeable in the areas of marketing, digital distribution, legal and business affairs, finance and funding and international. If we can’t help with members’ queries, we will almost certainly know someone who can. Advice from AIM’s friendly and informed team is the service most highly valued by our membership according to our annual survey.

Legal & Business Affairs

General Legal and Business Affairs Advice

Gee Davy, AIM’s Legal and Business Affairs Manager, is on hand to answer members’ general queries relating to all legal and business affairs matters. This includes distribution agreements, publishing/PRS and mechanicals, PPL and international performance rights (aka ‘neighbouring rights’), VPL, Youtube and other video related issues, and any number of other areas affecting independent music companies from a legal or commercial perspective.

AIM does not offer a full legal service and cannot offer specific contractual advice, but we offer solid general advice and invaluable business context to our members such that they are better placed to make informed decisions for themselves. Where necessary, we can put members in touch with expert private practice lawyers who will be able to offer bespoke legal advice, if necessary.

AIM industry support programmes

Since 2012 AIM has set up a number of industry level support programmes for its members.

PPL: AIM has a regular monthly meeting programme with PPL, whereby AIM members have their PPL related questions and issues raised by a dedicated contact at PPL, to ensure questions are answered and any issues are solved quickly and easily. Members send their questions to AIM’s legal team to collate and raise in each monthly meeting; responses are then fed back to the member either by AIM or PPL.

Youtube: Likewise since 2013, AIM is in regular contact with Youtube to assist AIM members with specific issues relating to Youtube which are not covered in any of Youtube’s large library of online support materials.

Please contact Gee Davy for more details.

Industry Checklists and AIM Guides

AIM offers a useful collection of short guides to signing artists, distribution, overseas licensing and other areas. We also publish a weekly newsletter with matters of concern and interest to indie labels.

Members can also find a wealth of information on the business affairs aspects of running a label in the free ‘AIM Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business’.

Lobbying & Campaigning

AIM acts as a voice for the independent sector to government and within the wider industry, championing the issues that matter to indies and ensuring indies are treated fairly by commercial partners.

Representing a body of over 800 small companies, AIM has the collective strength to act as a ‘fourth major’. AIM, therefore, lobbies government on the key issues affecting independents, and contributes to industry consultations as a member of UK Music, the body representing the interests of the UK music industry to government.

In the commercial world, small companies are often offered poorer deals than the major labels. AIM’s collective strength allows us to negotiate and campaign on behalf of the independent sector to ensure independents get fair deals from commercial partners. We also work to get good access to media for our members. In the past we have negotiated and campaigned on behalf of the sector with iTunes, the BBC, MTV and numerous others, resulting in significant extra revenue for our members.

We currently have an ongoing dialogue with BBC radio, to ensure independents have good access to the Radio 1 and Radio 2 playlists, something which was highlighted as a key concern by members at our 2009 AGM.

Marketing

Independent labels usually have shoestring marketing budgets compared to the huge amounts spent by the majors, but that does not mean that you cannot have a successful marketing campaign.

The independent sector is known for its creative and innovative marketing, and we have gathered a wealth of information and advice to help members succeed in this area.

Marketing Health Checks

Members can sign up for a subsidised 2-hour ‘Marketing Health Check’ meeting, allowing them to have an indepth meeting with an experienced marketing consultant in which to draw up a marketing plan for a forthcoming release. Expert marketing consultants often charge considerable fees for their time, but this service is subsidised by AIM and available to members for £180+VAT.

Marketing Information & Opportunities

In our weekly e-bulletin we update members on all marketing opportunities that we offer or are aware of: when and how to register entries for the Music Week Awards, the Impala Awards, the Mercury Music Prize and other awards, deals on advertising, opportunities to get your music to the media and so on.

There are also a number of videos, contacts directories and guides on the AIM website under the Marketing section.

Friends of AIM

Friends of AIM Directory

Get your company featured in the online Friends of AIM Directory, heavily searched by member labels and other music businesses and be included in the Featured Friend of AIM promo slot on the homepage of the AIM website.

Sponsorship opportunities

AIM has been an incredibly valuable source of assistance for us since its inception. Whether it be getting us off the launchpad and into deals in the early days of digital, guiding us through the often murky waters of neighbouring rights, or opening a very significant door to extra content via the BBC licensing agreement, […]Matt Bristow, Cherry Red Records

The independent world can be a wonderful place but it was often left behind when it came to important developments due to a lack of centrally coordinated lobbying and negotiation. AIM instantly corrected this and now it’s hard to imagine an independent community without AIM and all the other organisations that have sprung up around […]Peter Thompson, PIAS Recordings

AIM is an organisation with the interests of the indies at its core. It is essential it prospers and continues to be a thorn in the side of those who wish to ignore it.Geoff Travis, Rough Trade Records

AIM are an incredibly useful combination of informed, helpful and thorough. I couldn’t have got our PPL in order without them.Merida Sussex, Stolen Recordings

Bella Union has always found AIM to be an invaluable resource. As indies we like to think we need to stand on our own two feet all the time and spurn assistance out of fool’s pride. AIM is always there and for me, its like the label’s Samaritan.Simon Raymonde, Bella Union

Still need help deciding what plan suits you best? Speak to one of our team

Jude McArdle

Membership Manager

Jude McArdle oversees each of the AIM membership schemes. If you would like to find out more how the benefits and services on offer can help your business specifically she will be happy to have a chat.